Process and apparatus for making flanged bars



Dex; E8 1923.

- R. S. SIVHTH PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLANGED BARS Filed OCL. 50 1920 Patented Dec. 18, 1923.,

UNITED STATES PTLZNT REUBEN STANLEY SMITH, OE MILWAUKEE, lNTSCONSN, ASSGNDR, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO FIRST W'ISCONSIN TRUST COMPANY, A CORPORATTON 0F NET/V YORK.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOB MAKING- FLANGED BARS.

Application filed October 30, 1920. Serial N0. l220,691.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, RnUBEN STANLEY SMirH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of VVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Making Flanged Bars; and I do declare the following to be a clear, exact, and complete description thereof, such as will enable -others skilled in the art to which the invention pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing as showing one form of apparatus in which the invention has been embodied.

My invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for making curved flanged bars, such, for example, as constitute the side bars of an automobile or other vehicle frame.

Heretofore, and prior to the development of certain inventions by me, such bars have been produced by a series of independent and wholly disconnected operations per-' formed separately and without any regard to time upon a sheet metal blank, wherebT the latter through the medium of the several operations, is converted from its blank state into a completed bar, to be assembled, with other elements, as a part of the unitary frame structure.

In an application filed by me on January 2l, 1918, Serial :fi-212,934, on which Patent No. 1,397,020 was granted Nov. 15,1921, I

have disclosed an assemblage of machines,

which by their connected and dependent automatic operation, act to convert sheet metal blanks into frame elements, assemble the elements in their respective positions, and permanently unite the said assembled elements into a unitary and rigid frame structure. In the said assemblage, the various mechanisms operate in synchronism, or in substantial synchronism, in the performance of the functions which they are designed to accomplish, and in a predeten mined time cycle, the several sub-divided operations of the preparatory and fabricating operation being successively performed in a single brief cyclic period upon the materials in the different stages of their progressive advancement toward completion, the said operating periods alternating with other periods of like brief cyclic duration, in which latter the advancing movements of the materials for the progressive treatment described take place.

My present invention resides in a process and apparatus whereby the seriate operations of offsetting the rectangular metal plate, or strip, punching therefrom a suitably contoured blank, providing such blank with the necessary holes by piercing, and turning the side margins of the blank so as to create a sufficient reinforcement for the flanged bar, may be carried on in a succession of sub-divided operations, all of which are performed in a predetermined timecycle, as in my said patent. However, the said operating time-cycle is further subdivided and apportioned so that the several sub-divided operations involved in my present process, and which may be carried out by my improved apparatus as hereinafter disclosed, occur in different fractional parts of the sub-divided and apportioned timecycle.

By thus sub-dividing the time-cycle, and apportioning the several operations performed in producing the flanged bar, l am enabled to distribute the load carried by the present apparatus through the whole of the time-cycle of operation. By reason of the distribution of the load in the manner described, a much smaller motor may be employed for driving the machines inl the present assemblage, and the usual eX- cessive peak load incident to the operation of certain mechanisms in an assemblage like that in the patent referred to is avoided. The present apparatus will operate much more smoothly than will the mechanisms of the older assemblage, considering the latter as a synchronously operating unit, and with uniformity in the torque.

In the former practice of making curved flanged bars from sheet metal blanks, for eX- ample, such bars as those which constitute the side bars of an automobile frame, it has been the usual custom, in view of the varying width cf such blank, to take a rectangular strip of excessive width and punch therefrom by means of a blanking press a contoured blank having the desired outline. This older practice has involved a large waste of the material of the met-al strip from which the blank is punched, owing to the fact that the width of such strip must exceed considerably the greatest width of the contoured blank, such width being measured between the side lines of the blank element, projected in parallelism from the points of its extreme width;

I propose to eliminate the waste above adverted to, by selecting a narrower rectangular strip, which will be required to have a width only slightly in excess of the greatest width of the contoured blank which it is desired to produce. l then offset or bend the narrower metal strip in the direction of its width, thus distorting the rectangularity of the strip, so that the said strip will have an irregular contour approximating that of the blank element, and consequently, will enable the production of a curved blank from the offset strip to be effected, with a comparatively small waste of the material constituting suoli strip.

lny the present invention, the blanking operation is performed, not in a single operation as heretofore, but in a succession of subdivided operations, the first of which re-V moves from the metal strip certain alternating sections of the marginal portion of the strip lying outside of and beyond the contour lines which define the area of the blank element, and the second operation of which removes the intervening` alternating sections of such margin, so that by suoli a succession of subdivided operations, I am enabled to produce a properly contoured blank element, without requiring the apparatus to carry a power load of such magnitude as .is required in cases where the blank element is punched in a single operation.

ln preparing the side bars of automobile frames, a considerable number of perforations are required for the accommodation of the rivets whichV are employed in securing the members of the automobile frame in their respective posit-ions, and other perforatioiis are necessary for the attachment of adjunctiveV parts. These perforations in the main, are located at such points over the surface of the blank element that they may be made therein without liability to distortion in the subsequent operation of drawing the flanges of the bar into shape. It is therefore expedient to perforate the blank as completely as vmay be possible by punching prior to the drawing operation', inasmuch as the perforation of the blank in its flat condition may be effected with facility, and doing so will obviate the necessity for several special operations in'drilling which otherwise would have to be performed upon the blank after the side margins thereof have been turned to provide thel reinforcing flanges.

ln preparing the blanks, from which the side bars of an automobile frame are made, a

single complemental outfit comprising the dies in the two successively operating blanking presses are used for coiitouring the blanks for both the right and left hand bars. These dies produce duplicate blanks of uniform outline. It is quite usual to provide one of such side bar blanks with an increased number of perforations or one or both of' such blanks with perforations which are dif ferently located in the respective blanks, for the attachment of extra parts to the corresponding side bar of the frame. lt is necessary, however, to employ a drawing press for each of the side bars, and equipped with suitably arranged dies, by reason of the faci` that the flanges upon the two side bars constituting a pair extend in opposite directions, usually toward the inside of the frame.

The piercing press which l use in the assemblage herein described, will be perinanently equipped with punches and dies for forming such perforatioiis in the blanks as are commento both side bars, and will also be provided with supplemental punches,

' which latter are set at appropriate times to produce in one or the other, or both, of the side bar blanks the additional perforation's necessary for the accommodation of the attachments upon that particular side bar. The perforated blanks emerge from the piercing press in a constant stream, but in regular alternation, that is, a blank which is to forni the right hand side bar is followed by one which is to foim the left hand side bar, and so on. ln their movement away from the piercing press, the contoured blanks which have been perforated to correspond with the requirements of the right hand side bar will be successively diverted from the line of their travel and positioned between the dies of the drawing press, in which the dies are arranged for the formation of the right hand side bar. ln order that the press for forming the left hand side bars may receive the blanks in position for turning the flanges in the proper direction, the left hand side har blanks aie turned over as they ap-V proach the left hand side bar drawing press.

After it reaches the end of the line of its travel, the blank `which is to form the left hand side bar, is likewise diverted from its course and positioned between the dies of its corresponding drawing press, and a left hand side bar is thereby formed. The side bars', after the completion of the drawing operations, are removed from their respective drawing presses, and may he either automatically or manually carried to a position of assembly, where with the other constituent elements, such as cross bars, they are united into a fra-me el' unitary and rigid structure.

The offsetting press, the successively operating' blanlring presses7 the piercing press with punches set for perforating the right hand side hars in the required manner. and the torminp' press tor drawing the right hand side bars will be progressively operated during' a lorieirn time cycle which may consume approximatcly one half the time all tted for the operation ol' the whole assemblage. The ollsetting press, the successivelyv operating blanlring presses7 and the pie press now set, it may he. with" the supplemental punches in position tor perlorating the le'it hand side bar with its larger number ot holes, and the drawingl press for forming the lett lia-nd side bar, will be operated in another and succeeding' briei time cycle, which likewise will be equal in point orp time. But the two brief cycles ot operation referred to both occur within and constitute the cycle of operation of th whole assemblage. The osetting press, the two blanlring Adresses, and the piercing' press operate in succession in the preparation ot a right hand bar, such operations being` followed in the same lorief cycle by the operation of the drawing press which turns the flanges of the right hand side bar. During` these operations. the drawing' press 'for turning' the angjes of the lett hand side bar does not tunction in that moment. ficcordingly, and with movements which closelv follow those just described as incident to the production of the right hand side bar, the od'setting` press, the two blankingr presses.y and the piercing' press operate in succession in the prepa-ration ot a lett hand side liar, and are likewise Yfollowed in their movement by that of the drawin` press tor turning' the flanges upon the lett hand side bar. During' these last mentioned oporations, the right hand drawing' press is momentarily without function. Each series ot briei2 c vclic operations des( ihed is proiiluctive of a completely shaped har, first a "ht hand side bar and then a lett. and

such operations are followed in each iustancey by a movement of the conveyor mechanism which acts to advance the 'flowing stream of elements for the next series ot operations so that a pair ot completed. oppositely liang'ed. side bars is produced ant delivered in each cycle ot operation ot the whole apparatus.

ln producing side hars in which the perr'orations have the same relative location in each of the bars, the arrangement of supplemental punches for piercing additional holes will be omitted. Such supplemental punches will therefore be employed only lor the purpose or piercing' in either side har blank, the holes which are not common to 1both blanks.

ln carrying out my idea of dividing` and apportioning and staggering' the .load carried by the driving' mechanisms i'or the. assemblage, l arrange the conn xclions Vtor operating' the group ot presses iu each oi5 'the two hriet cycles or movement. so that no excessive peak load is imposed upon the driving mechanism at any time during the complete oper ting cycle of 'the assemblage. rFliese results l achieve lijf adji tinnor spacingthe work movements of the seve 'al presses so that each sequence ot such work inovunents will take place in succession in its corresponoiop,` cycle. As above indicatedy the said lirici time cycles are ot equal duration in point ci time. but the sub-divided operations performed in each oi the two lirici: cycles of movement of the presses which compose the cycle olf' increment ot the whole assemblage, will be scheduled so as to be effected .in succession as well as in aternatioin so that as far may ne possible, there will occur little anyj overlapping ot such movements. necessary 'for these sub-divided operations he per''irmed at different instants ot time7 inasmuch as it may convenient or 3.- Ledle to 'adjust the connections so that a pluralitz'g.v ot ich sub-divided ierations ay be performed at the saine iowever.v care must lie tilen that the aggro gate load placed upon 'the apparatus in coinbin rg' such subdivided' operations at any instant ot 'time does ninA enfeed t'e at which the smaller motor which cino. rv for driving' the mechanism ot the assemhlan'e as a whole is designed to carry.

The oirieratinp' connections 'tor the several presses will be properly adjusted with the 7icw to securing' a. 'fairly eren distribution ci' the load, and this adjustment having? heen made, l propose to drive all oi such presses from a line or main drwingr shaft operated hv a motor or other suitable power means, siich line shalt be" equipi'ied 'with branch driving connections 'for actuznuinj each of the presses in the predeteriuinei'l lirici cycle et operation.

lli/leans have also been 4vu'orideil whereby each of the presses be disconnected from the main driving' shaltn separately and independently dri. each ot the presses` during' the tirio of such dis connection trom the mein driii'iuig shaft. are also provided. The purpose in providing' such separate drivingY means 'tor each of the pressesis to enable their independent movement for testing' the operation of each press before ope ating the assemblage as a unit. To enable .me to operate the presses singly,

But it is not absolute y I provide each of such presses with` a small motor of sufiicient power, which may be clutched or otherwise coupled to the branch driving connections of the press, so as to actuate the latter during the time of disconnection from the main driving shaft.

Each press is provided with a visual indicator, which may be of such form and arrangement as to permit ready inspection, so as to ascertain whether the presses of the groups are operating in accordance with the desired timing.

A further feature of my invention resides in the construction of an apparatus for preparing elements for assembly, such apparatus embracing a series of successively operating machines, which perform the preparing operations upon the element material in its various stages of progress through the assemblage. Each of the machines constituting the assemblage is continuously operated, and while some of such machines are unvarying in their movements, others thereof have capacity for alternating movements, whereby alternate elements of the succession of elements may be subjected to different operations in the same apparatus. The offsetting press, the successively operating` blanking presses. and the piercing press, operate in the ratio of 2 to l to each of the drawing presses in both brief cyclic movements.

rlhe novel features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims appended to this specification.

Referring to the drawing which forms a part of this specification.

Figure l is a plan view showing diagrammatically the assemblage of the offsetting press, the successively operating blanking` presses, the two-action piercing press, and the right and left hand side bar drawing presses, constituted as two alternately operating groups as hereinbefore described, together with the line or main shaft which operates the said presses as a unit, in each group and in alternating cycles, in one or both of which the operation may be modified, and branch shafts provided with connecting and disconnecting` means, whereby each of the presses in the assemblage may be operated independently of any other. The said view also illustrates the feeding movement of the metal plates or strips to the assemblage at one end of the line of presses, the several transforming operations performed first in bending the metal strip edgewise and then upon the blank which has been produced from such strip, and the delivery of the blanks in the form of finished side bars at the other end of the line of presses. This view also shows the arrangement of the auxiliary power means which may be coupled so as to drive the separate presses independently.

Fig. 2 is a view, partly in section, on the line 2 2, Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, showing in .detail the construction of the two-part branch shaft with its coupling means, whereby the several presses in the group may be operated either through the main driving shaft as a unit, or through the auxiliary driving mechanisms separately and independently, as may be desired.

Fig. l is a view in elevation of a visual indicator, one of which is applied to each press, and which is employed for the purpose of ascertaining whether the presses are operating in the desired timing.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing the arrangement of the connections for driving the timing device.

Fig. 6 is a chart illustrating the succession soY of operations performed by the respective Y presses in a sub-divided cycle of time, and showing how the distributed load imposed upon the several presses is apportioned so as to eliminate any excessive peak load, which otherwise would occur in the operation of the assemblage.

ln the drawing, the offsetting press is indicated by the letter A, the successively acting blanking presses by the letters B and C, the piercing press by the letter D, and the forming presses for drawing the side par flanges into shape by the letters E and A main motor 20, of sufficient power to carry the largest of the peak loa-ds which may occur in the operation of the assemblage, drives a line or main sha-ft 21, and the latter through branch shafts 22, drives the several presses coupled in the group as a unit. The line shaft 21 has fixed thereon bevel gears 23, equal in number to the number of presses employed in the assemblage. The said bevel gears 23 are in'mesh with bevel gears 2i fixed upon the near ends of the said branch shafts 22. At the other end, each shaft 22 is provided with apinion 39, in engagement with a gear 40 upon the operating shaft Vfor driving the press. Each branch shaft 22 is formed of two aligned parts 25 and 26, one end of the part. 25 being reduced as at 27, and tted loosely in a concentric bore 28, in the contiguous end 31 of the part 26. The two part shaft 22 is supported in a housing 29. Upon and near the other end of the part 25v of the shaft 22, and within the housing 29, is fastened a clutch hub 30.V Splin'ed on the end 3l of the part 26 of the shaft 22, is a sliding clutch member 32, both ends of the said sliding clutch member being provided with clutch faces, one of which is designed to engage the clutch face of the hub 30, fixed upon the part 25of the shaft 22. With the clutch faces thus engaged, the movement of the line shaft 2l is transmitted to the presses asa group or unit, through the coupled parts and 26 of the shaft 22. Rotating loosely upon the part 26 of the shaft 22, and Within the housing 29, is a gear Wheel 33, provided upon one face thereof With a y clutch hub 34, the latter being adapted to with a.

be engaged by the clutch face upon the other end of the sliding clutch member 32, when the said sliding clutch member is thrown out of engagement With the clutch hub 30.

lach press in the assemblage is provided small normally inoperative independent motor 35, upon the end of the shaft of Which is a pinion 36. These small motors will'be of such horse power as will enable them to separately operate the presses to which they may be connected. Journalled in the housing 29, is a shaft 360, driven by a lifted gear 3T, in engagement With the pinion 36, upon the end of the shaft of the motor 35. The said shaft 360, has also fixed thereon, a pinion 33, the latter being in mesh with the gear 33, rotating loosely upon the part 26 of the branch shaft 22. With the engagement of the clutch parts 32 and 34, the Vloose gear becomes relatively fixed upon the part 26 of the shaft 22, and transmits motion to the connected press, which may thus be independently operated.

The double faced splined clutch member 32 may be moved along the shaft 22, to disengage the said clutch member from the clutch hub 30, and While l have shown a hand lever 4l for operating the clutch mechanisms separately, it will be obvious that the clutch operating levers may be simultaneously actuated by a device Which will throwall of the clutches into or out of engagement in a single movement. vfhen all of the presses are coupled through their clutches, they will be operated as a unitby means of the line driving shaft 2l, and when the clutches are thrown out, each press may be operated independently by the small motor 35, provided therefor. rlhe .splined clutch member 32 cannot be in engagement with both of the' clutch hubs 30 and 34 at the same time, but may occupy a position of engagement with either clutch hub 30 or 34. lhen the sliding clutch ber 32 is thrown into engagement With the clutch hub 34 of the loosely rotating gear Wheel 33, the auxiliary motor 35, may through the connections described, impart movement to the particular press which is arranged to be driven by the said auxiliary motor 35. rlhis motion will take place While the motor 20 and the line shaft 2l are at rest. andthe small motors 35 may thus be independently driven for a trial of the press, With an opportunity to perfect such adjustments as may be necessary, before operating' the assemblage as a Whole. After the presses have been tested and adjusted, the independently operating connections will be disconnected and the shafts 22 will be clutched for operation by the line shaft 21. The presses in the group may new be operated as a unit by the large motor 20.

After the presses have been separately tested and adjusted, it is necessary that they be set so that When coupled to the main or line driving shaft 2l, the presses will operate in exact and predetermined time, each press performing its opera-tion in that fraction of the time cycle allotted for such opera tion. To enable the Working position of the several presses in their relation to each other to be ascertained, I provide each press With a visual indicator, which Will indicate the position of the mechanism of the press at any moment. The shaft sections 25 and 26 are provided with sprockets 42 and 43 respectively, which through chains 44 and 440 drive sprockets 46 and 47, mounted upon the shafts 48 and 49, journalled in a stand 60, which is mounted upon the gear casing 29. A ring 6l attached to a tubular shaft journalled in the said stand 60, is driven from the shaft 43 through the medium of Worm gears and bevel gears as shown. Motion is transmitted from the Worm gear t0 the bevel gears through the tubular shaft also mounted in the stand 60. A disc 62 is mounted upon the end of a shaft which is journalled in the tubular shaft of the ring 61. This disc is driven from the shaft 49 by means of a small Worm gear and bevel gear connection, the shaft connecting the last mentioned Worm gear and bevel gears rotating in its companion tubular shaft as shown in Fig. 5. The ring 6l and the disc 62 are designed to be operated With their indicators in exact refristry, the disc 62 being provided .with a marker 63 which points toward a marker 64 upon the said ring. The disc 62 and rings 6l are rotated in unison by means of the connections from the two parts of the shaft 22, when coupled together by the clutch 32, but when the clutch is thrown out so as to disconnect the presses from the line shaft 2l, the ring 6l will remain at rest by reason of the inactivity of the part 25 of the shaft 22. The disc'62 will always rotate in the movement of the press with which it is associated, inasmuch as the part 26 of the sha-ft 22 is rotated constantly, Whether by the main motor 2O or by the independent motor 35. lVhen the indicators upon the disc and ring are properly set, mere inspection of the device will indicate Whether the press is operating in the desired timing. The disc 62 mav be provided with additional markers 65, which vill indicate the extentof the displacement or lack of registry, if there by any, in the operation of the press. By proper location of the additional markers 65, with reference to the speed of rotation of the parts the distance which the press will have to be turned to bring the parts again in correct registry, may be easily ascertained. The position of the presses thus being indicated, it will be an easy matter to turn over suoli of the presses as may be necessary to bring them into the relative positions which they are to occupy while operating as a unit. This adjustment having been effected, the presses will then.

be operated from the line shaft 21, and in the order desired.

As stated at the opening of this specification, there are in the press assemblageV two operating groups or lines of presses, some of which operate successively in both of the sub-divided cycles comprising the complete operation of the assemblage, while others operate alternately in the said cycles, the two cycles being practically co-extensive in point of time. 'Ihe assemblage herein described is designed to operate upon a schedule providing for the delivery of a mated pair of finished side bars in a fixed period, which in the present instance, has been determined to be 10 seconds. The cycle in which each of the two groups of presses operate will, therefore, have a duration of one-half of that period.

Fig,V 6 illustrates a development of the successive and alternating operation of the two groups of presses. In producing a right hand side bar the operations of the off-setting press, the successively acting blanking presses, the piercing press and the right hand forming press, take place, such operations being indicated 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and these are followed by the like operations performed in producing a left hand side bar, such latter operations being indicated 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, it being understood that the ten operations in the complete cycle of movement of the assemblage occur in consecutive order.

Ordinarily, there will be no dierence in the two like opera-tions performed in each cycle, unless it be that one of the side bars is required to be produced with additional perforations, as is the case in some types of frames. Iliile I have described the left hand side bar as being provided with such additional perforations, it is apparent that either side bar may have additional perforations which are not common to both. In providing such additional pcrforations the piercing press will be equipped with the necessary supplemental dies, which will be positioned so that they will operate only upon that side bar which it is intended to perforate, and be out of position to act upon the coinplemental side bar.

In my Patent No. 1,397,020, dated November 15, 1921, hereinbefore referred to, the several operations of blanking, piercing and forming, aswell as several other connected and related'operations, are performed in substantial synchronism. In such prior construction, the assemblage carries an eX- cessive peak load at the moment of performing such synchronized operations. My present invention has for its purpose to secure a distribution of the peak load through the operating cycle of the improved assemblage, so that the severe strains incident to the operation of my former mechanism is eliminated. By thus distributing the load and apportioning it to different parts of the operating cycle, I have produced an assemblage which operates much more smoothly by reason of thev distribution of the strains throughout the operating cycle.

I have hereinbefore stated at some length the economy inv material which results from the practice of offsetting or' bending in the direction of its width, the metal strip or sheet from which the blank is cut. An offsetting press applicable to the present assemblage is disclosed in an application filed March 22, 1920, Serial #367,799, to which application I am a party, and on which Patent No. 1,466,104, Was granted August 28, 1923. Y Y

In an application filed by me on February 18, 1919, Serial #277,774, on which Patent No. 1,357,356, was granted Nov. 2, 1920, I have disclosed a successively operating blanking press, likewise applicable to the present assemblage. Such successively operating blanking press, which acts'in one operation to remove alternate sections of the margin of the plate lying beyond the contour lines of the blank, and in the next operation to vremove the remaining intervening sections, and so produce a perfectly contoured blank, has many advantages byV reason of the great economies which it achieves in reducing the labor cost of such production.

The piercing press employed in the present assemblage may be an ordinary one, provided with supplemental dies for piercing such holes as are not common to or are differently located in the right and left hand side bars.` Y A Ordinary forming presses with their dies arranged in position to draw the flanges of the right hand and left hand bars, respec tively, may be used, but I contemplate the use Vin the present assemblage of a drawing press such as is disclosed in an application filed February 7, 1920, Serial #356,985, on which atent No. 1,37 3,572 was granted April 5, 1921, to which application I am a party. Y V

The assemblage constituting my present invention will be'provided with conveying and feeding mechanisms L15, operated in step-by-step movements to convey the blanks to and through the respective presses in a regular spaced series, such conveyor and feeding mechanisms being operative at the conclusion of each cyclic movement to advance the spaced plates and blanks for the succession of operations to be performed thereon.

Such a. conveyor mechanism is disclosed in my patent of November 2, 1920 above referred to.

In the view of the expedient results Which follow the use of a single line of contoured blanks for producing both the right hand side bars and the left hand side bars, it is necessary that the position of one of these blanks be reversed When presented for the action of the corresponding forming press. In the present case, have elected to reverse the position of the blank Which is to form the left hand side bar, and have arranged at the end of the run of the conveyor, a device which will operate to invert the left hand side bar blank and present it in proper position for action by the dies of the left hand side bar forming press.

Each of the forming presses which turn the flanges of the side bars, is provided With an automatically operating device i60 Which Will act to remove the side bar from the press upon the completion of the dravving operation. After being removed from the forming presses, the finished side bars unay be inspected and passed to a point Where With the other constituent elements they will be assembled and permanently united into a xed and unitary frame struc* ture.

The rectangular metal strips or plates, indicated 50, are transformed by the ofi"- setting press A into irregular plates 51, of such area that the side bar blanks may be cut therefrom, in the manner previously described, and With a great reduction in the Waste of the material. At 52, l have indicated one of such strips after having been subjected to the operation of the first blanking press B, by means of which alternate sections of the margin of the plate lying beyond the contour lines of the blank have been removed. A contoured blank. completed by the operation of the second blanking press C, is indicated 53, and the right hand and left hand side bar forming Iblanks by the numerals 54 and 55, respectively.

rlhe side bar blanks are shown as being carried by the conveyor Vfrom the piercing press, with the left hand side bar blanks conventionally illustrated as provided with additional perforations not present in the right hand side bar blank.

The connections between the main or line driving shaftl 2l and the branch shafts 22, are such that all of the branch shafts 22 are driven in unison. However, inasmuch as the alternately operating forming presses lll and F are each actuated but once during the tivo cycles of movement of the presses if) and l), it will be necessary to provide the forining presses E an-dllivith suitable reduction gears Which will bring' about their periodic alternating operation in consonai with the group movements of the offsettu blanln ing` and piercing press It is not entirely7 necessa ful operation of my presethe nietal plates 50 be offset 5l., prior to the blanl-:inv inasmuch as the siucessively acting` blanlzing presses will operate With equal facilV -v Y rectangular plates. Also, instead of using successively acting bla l; Aig presses, orgranized to cut away the marginal ar eas o plates, lf may use a blanlling ni ordinary type, which rvill punch 'l c l 58 from the metal plate in a single operation. Therefore, the pnrpose of my invention may be achieved in the absence of an offsetting press, such as that which has been described, and as Well by using a blanl-:ing press instead of tivo illustra ed. Likewise, the piercing operation may be effected by a plurality of presses, each equipped with punches arranged in conformance with the requirements of the particular side bar blank; `in the latter arrangement sach piercing presses will have the alternati i' operation of the forming presses.

irrespective of the number of presses eniployed, my present invention contemplates any arrangement Which will enable the sev eral operations to be divided and apportioned in the cycle of movement of the semblage, and also any arrangement of presses which have consecutive operation in the production of a succession of blanks, up to the point of diversion of the alter blanks for subsetpent operations.

rThe devices Wl eby the proper timing or relative synchronir/nng of the several presses in the line may b ascertained and deter mined when operated as a unit, are claimed in an application led November 9. by Rudolph Furi-er. Serial No. 633.830.

rlhe devices whereby the alternate blanks may be reversed in the manner disclosed so as to be fed in proper position to the drawing presses, are claimed in application filed November l2, 1923, by TWalter lll. Richter, Serial No. 674,255.

Having thus described my what l claim and desire to secure Patent of the United States, is:

l. in apparatus for producin flanged side bars for automobi from sheet metal strips, compri.' in' means for bending the strips in the direction of their Width to conform such strips to the lill) nt' dit) curved frames blanks, and means for turning irregular contour of the side bar blanks, means for iemoving the marginal portions of the strips lying beyond the contour lines of the blanks, means for piercing the said flanges upon the blanks, in combination with driving mechanism actuating all of the said means through a succession of operations distributed through and performed in a time cycle, whereby an excessive peak load upon the driving mechanism is avoided.

2. An apparatus for producing curved flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet nieta-l strips, comprising means for bending the strips in the direction of 'their width, means for removing the marginal portions of the strips lying beyond the contour lines of the blanks in a succession of operations` means for piercing the said blanks, and means for turning flanges upon the blanks, in combina-tion with driving mechanism actuating all of tht` said means in a succession of operations distributed through and performed in the time cycle oit the driving mechanism, so as to avoid an excessive peak load upon the latter.

3. An apparatus for producing` mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising successively operating means for cutting the blanks from such strips, perforating such blanks, and turning flanges upon the blanks, and driving mechanism for said several means, whereby the latter are actuated in sequence in the time cycle of operation of the said mechanism, and an excessive peak load is avoided by reason of the distribution and apportionment of the successive operations of the said several means.

4l. An apparatus for producing flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising` mea-ns for removing by successive operations the marginal portions of the strips lying beyond the contour lines of the blanks to be produced therefrom, means for piercing the said blanks, and means for turning` the flanges upon the blanks, in combination with driving mechanism whereby the said several means are actuated in sequence and the load is distributed through the cycle of operation of said mechanism.

5. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising means for removing the marginal portions of the strips lying beyond -the contour lines of the blanks to be produced therefrom, means for piercing the said blanks, and separate means for turning the flanges oppositely upon alternate blanks, in combina- 4tion with driving mechanism whereby the said several means are actuated in sequence in alternating groups for the production of' one side bar in each sequence of movements,

and the load is distributed through the cycle of operation of said mechanism in each of said group movements.

6. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames Vfrom sheet metal strips, comprising means for removing by successive operations the'marginal portions of the strips lying beyond the contour lines of the blanks to beproduced therefrom, means for piercing the said blanks, and separate means for turning the flanges oppositely upon alternate blanks, in combination with driving mechanism whereby the said several means are actuated in sequence in alterna-ting groups for the production of one side bar in each sequence of movements.` and the load is distributed through the cycle of operation of' said mechanism ineach of said group movements.

7. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of curved flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising means for bending the strip in the direction of its width, means for removing by successive operations the marginal portions of the strips lying beyond the contour lines of the blanks to be produced therefrom, means for piercing the said blanks, and separate means for turning the flanges oppositely upon alternate blanks, in combi nation with driving mechanism whereby the said several means are actuated in sequence in alternating groups for the production of one side bar in each sequence of movements, and the load is distributed through the cycle of" operation of said mechanism in each of said group movements.

8. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames from flat sheet metal strips, comp-rising consecutively operating means for producing a succession of contoured blanks from such strips, in combination with means acting upon alternate blanks in the succession of contoured blanks to turn the flanges thereof in opposite directions. and driving mechanism whereby said blank producing means and said flange turning means are actuated in alternating group movements for the completion of an oppositely flanged side bar in each group movement.

9. 'An apparatus for producing mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising means for removing the marginal portions of the strip lying beyond the confines of the area of the blanks to be produced therefrom, and means for piercing the contoured blanks, each of said means acting consecutively upon each element of a succession of side bar forming elements, inV combination with means acting upon alternate elements in the succession of elements toV turn the flanges thereon in opposite directions, and driving iis ian

y mechanism whereby said several means are actuated in alternately operating the production of a side movement.

10. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of curved flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising means for bending the str'p in the direction of its width, means for removing the marginal port-ions of the strip lying begroups for bar in each group yond the confines of the area of the blank to be produced therefrom, and means for piercing the contoured blanks, each of said means acting consecutively upon each element of a succession of side bar forming elements, in combination with means acting upon alternate elements in the succession or" elements to turn the flanges thereon in opposite directions, and driving mechanism whereby said several means are alternately actuated in alternately operating groups for the production of a side movement.

11. An apparatus for producing mated pairs of curved flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising means for bending the strip in the direction of its width, means for removing'by a succession of operations the marginal portions of the strip lying beyond the confines of the area of the blank to be produced therefrom,

bar in each group and means for piercing the contoured blanks,

each of said means acting consecutively upon each element of a succession of side bar forming elements, in combination with means acting upon alternate elements in the succession of elements to turn the fianges thereon in opposite directions, and driving mechanism whereby said several means are actuated in alternately operating groups for the production of a side -bar in each group movement.

12. In an apparatus for producing flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising successively actving means for blanking and perforating 4eral means for the side bar elements and forming 'the latter into flanged bars, in combination with driving mechanism whereby said several means are actuated in a succession of operations distributed through an operating time cycle and an excessive peak load is avoided, devices for disconnecting the severalA successively acting means from their driving mechanism, and separate means for independently driving each of said several means.

13. 1n an apparatus for producing curved -flanlged side bars forI automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising the sevbending the strip in the direction of itsv width, cutting a contoured blank from the said strip, piercing the blank and turning the side` margins thereof to form flanges at an angle to the plane of the bla-nk, in combination with driving mechanism whereby the said several means are actuated in a succession of operations distributed throughfan operating time cycle and an excessive peak load is avoided, de` vices for disconnecting the said several successively acting means from` their driving mechanism, and separate means for independently driving each of said several successively acting means.

14e. An apparatus for producing flanged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, comprising separate means for cutting the blanks from such strips, perforating such blanks, and turning flanges upon the blanks, and driving connections for said means, whereby the latter are actuated in sequence in the time cycle of operation of the said apparatus, and an excessive pea-k load is avoided by the apportionment of the successive operations of the said several means in the said time cycle.

15. An apparat-us for producing mated pairs or" iianged side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal strips, such apparatus` comprising a plurality of constantly operating means for producing a succession of contoured blanks from such strips, in combination with separate means for acting alternately upon the blanks in the succession of the contoured blanks produced by the first said means to turn the flanges thereof in opposite' directions, and driving connections where-bly the said blank producing means and the turning means are actuated in alternating group movements for the completion of an oppositely flanged side bar in each such gro-up movement.

16. The method of producing flanged bars from rectangular strips of sheet metal, which consists in advancing a succession of such strips in procession and subjecting them to a ividthwise bending operation to distort the area` thereof, cutting away the marginal portion of such strips to produce a contoured blank by a plurality of cutting operations each of which removes a part of such marginal portion, piercing the said blanks` and turning the side margins thereof to form flanges, all of the said operations being performed in apportioned sequence upon a series of spaced bar forming materials.

17. The method of producing flanged bars from rectangular metal strips, which consists in advancing a succession of suoli strips, removing the marginal portions of each strip beyond the outline of the contoured blank, and turning the side margins thereof to form flanges at an angle to the plane of the blank, such operations being performed in apportioned sequence upon a series of spaced bar forming materials.

18. The method of producing' mated pairs of flanged side bars for automobile frames,

Which consists in feeding a succession of metal strips along a: single line of travel, cutting contoured blanks from the `said strips and perforating the said blanks While in such line yof travel, diverting the said blanks in alternation from said line of travel, and forming flanges thereon While so diverted. j

19,The method of producing curved flanged side. bars for automobile frames, which consists in feeding a succession of metal strips and the'blanks cut therefrom in spaced relation, offsetting such strips in the direction of their Width to distort their surface area to accommodate the production of metal blanks or irregular out-line therefrom, removing the marginal portions of the strips which lie beyond the confines of the area of the blank, piercing the said blanks, and turning the side margins thereof to form flanges, all of said operations being performed in a time cyrle which is apportioned for the progres-sive performance of the said operations upon the succession of blanks.

20. The method of producing mated pairs of flanged sidey bars for autoiinibile frames which consists in feeding metal strips and the blanks cut therefrom in spaced relation along a single line. of travel for the completion of a, successsion of pairs of blanks, diverting the said blanks in alternation 'from the said line of travel, and turning the side margins thereof to form oppositely disposed flanges upon the blanks thus alterna'tely diverted.

21. The method of producing mated pairs 0f curved lianged side bars for automobile kframes, which consists in feeding metal strips and the blanks produced therefrom along a single line of travel, bending the said strips in the direction of their width to accommodate the production of side bar blanks of irregular contour, removing the marginal portions of the blanks lying beyond the contour lines thereof by successive operations each of which removes a portion of said margin, perforating the blanks, divert-- ing the alternate blanks of the succession from their line of movement, and turning the side margins of the diverted blanks to form opposite flanges thereon.

22. The method of producing pairs of fianged bars, which consists in bending edgewise a succession of advancing metal strips to conform such strips to the contour of the blanks to be cut therefrom, removing the margins of the plates to produce blanks of desired outline and perfor-ating the blanks, to progressively perfect the said blanks by successive operations performed upon each blank in alternation, and turning the side margins of the blanks oppositely in alternation at the conclusion of each said progressive perfecting operations to produce flanges thereon. Y

Q3. The method of producing matedI pairs of flanged bars, which consists in subjecting a series of advancing Ametal blanks to a plurality of progressive perfecting operations, performed successively upon each blank of the series in alternation, and turning the side margins of the alternate blanks at the conclusion of thel progressive perfecting operations pertaining thereto, whereby a pair of oppositely flanged bars is produced in each complete cycle of operation.

24. The method of producing flanged side bars for automobiley frames, Which consists in the stepsof cutting blanks from a succession of advancing metal plates, perfora-ting the blanks, and turning the side margins thereof to form flanges, all of such steps being performed progressively upon the same elements and successively uponV different elements in a sub-divided cyclic period Y in which the said steps are apportioned to avoid an excessive peak load upon the operating mechanism.

The method of producing shaped metal parts, which consists in` feeding a plurality of part forming elements in succession, subjecting all of such elements to preparatory treatment performed during the intervals of feeding movement and whereby their original elemental state isV progressively changed, diverting the treated elements in alternation from the line of feeding movement, and subjecting such elements to finishing o erations While so diverted.

od of producing mated pairs 26. The met of side bars for automobile frames, Which consists in feeding a line of side bar formingV elements in a separated succession, .subjecting all of ksuch elements to preparatory operations whereby their elemental condition is progressively changed into side bar blanks, diverting the blanks in alternation at the end of their line of travel, and sub jecting the diverted blanks to different drawing operations, whereby opposite flanges are turned upon the sides of the blanks to constitute channeled side bars.

27. The method of producing ,pairs of metal parts, Which consists in advancing a succession. of part forming elements along a line of travel and subjecting all of said elements to preparatory operations While upon said line of travel, then diverting the said elements in alternation into separated lines of travel, and subjecting the elements in each separated line to further operations to effect completion of the pairs of parts in succession.

28. In an apparatus for producing metal parts, a line of presses provided with tools.

adapted to perform a progressing series of preparatory operations upon a succession of part forming elements, in combination with other presses to which the part forming elements are diverted from said line of presses and adapted each to perform different finishing operations upon the diverted lines of part forming elements, and means for conveying the elements from press to press.

29. In an apparatus for shaping metal parts, means adapted to perform like preparatory operations upon a succession of part forming elements, in combination with a plurality of other means to which the part forming elements of the succession are mechanically diverted in alternation for further operations which differ in the completed parts, and means for conveying the elements.

30. In an apparatus for producing mated pairs of side bars for automobile frames from sheet metal, a line of presses provided with die members to separately perform different preparatory operations upon a succession of side bar forming elements, each press in the line vbeing adapted to perform its like preparatory operation upon all of the elements, in combination with a plurality of other presses to which the partially prepared side bar elements of the succession are divertedV in alternation for different finishing operations, and means for conveying the elements. Y

3l. An apparatus for producing flanged bars for automobile frames from sheet metal, such apparatus comprising successively acting means for converting the sheet metal into completed bars by progressively performed operations, and conveying devices, in combination with mechanism for driving said means as a whole, and separable connections between the said mechanism and means, whereby the said :successively acting means may be adjusted with relation to each other, so as to distribute the progressive operations through the time cycle of operation of the apparatus and avoid an excessive peak load upon the driving mechanism.

32. An apparatus for producing shaped sheet metal parts, such apparatus comprising conveying devices and a series o-f successively acting presses for transforming the sheet meta-l into a state of completion by progressive different operations distributed through an apportioned time cycle, whereby an excessive peak load upon the driving mechanism is avoided, and common driving mechanism for actuating the said presses in the desired to each other.

33. In an apparatus for producing shaped metal parts, a line of presses provided with tools adapted to perform progressively a series of preparatory operations upon the parts forming elements to effect in the latter a state of completion, and conveying devices, in combination with means for driving suchy presses as a unit, and with means for separately driving' the said presses independently of their common actuating means.

84. In an apparatus for producing flanged bars for automobile frames from sheet metal, the combination of a line of presses adapted by a series of progressive operations to transform the sheet metal into completed bars, the said presses operating in a sub-divided time cycle through which the several operations are apportioned so as to distribute the load when the presses are driven as a unit, and means for independently driving each of said presses.

35. In an apparatus for producing shaped metal parts, a line of presses timed for successive operation throughl an apportioned time cycle, the said presses being adapted to perform progressively a series of preparatory operations upon the parts forming elements to effect completion of the latter, in combination with independent driving means yfor each press, whereby the desired relative timing of the several presses may be attained, and conveying devices for the elements.

86. In an apparatus of the character specified, a line of presses adapted to perform progressively a series of preparatory operations upon parts-forming element-s to effect completion of the latter, conveying devices for the elements, and a line driving shaft for operating all of the presses in succession through an apportioned time cycle, in combination with means for disconnecting the presses from their operating line shaft, and independent driving means for the presses, whereby the latter may be separately operated and brought into timed relation with the line driving shaft for connection thereto.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name at Milwaukee, this 27th day of October, 1920. l

R. STANLEY SMITH. Witnesses W. F. VVooLARD, MARIE SoHMrr.

timing with relation 

